Roller-skate



H. w. JONES; ROLLER SKATE.

(No Model.)

No. 567,346. Patented Sept. 8, 1896.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HOWARD w. JONES, on CINCINNATI, oIIIo.

ROLLER-S KATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No; 567,346, datedSeptember 8, 1896.

Application filed May 16, 1896. Serial No. 591,878- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HOWARD WV. JONES, a citizen of the United States,residing at Oincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wheel or RollerSkates, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in wheel or roller skates, whichwill be first fully described in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, and then particularlyreferred to and pointed out in theclaims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal central sectionalelevation of my invention with one side or arm of the fork for the frontwheel broken off; Fig. 2, a top plan view showing the adjustableconnection between the fore and rear portions or members of the skate,said fore and rear members being detached or separated; Fig. 3, a bottomplan View showing the said fore and rear portions duly connected inalmost their shortest closed condition, the straps for securing theskate to the foot being shown in dotted lines outstretched; and Fig. 4,a transverse section taken on line so 00 of Figs. 1 and 2, but on alarger scale.

A represents the front or toe member of my skate, and B the rear or heelmember thereof. These two parts are adj ustably and detach'ably heldtogether by means of a central longitudinal table-slide connectioncomposed of' the horizontal tongue a, projecting rearwardly from thefore plate A, and the pair ofbars I) b, projecting forwardly from theheel-plate B, as best seen in Fig. 2. The tongue a is continued forwardto the point of the toe-plate, as seen in dotted lines, Fig.

.2, and the grooves a a, at either side said tongue, serve as guidewaysfor the bars I) b, as shown in Fig. 3. The rearwardly-projecting portionof tongue a engages a groove or way I) in the bottom face of theheel-plate B, and is held therein at the desired point to suit the footby means of a set-screw O. (Seen in Figs. 1 and This slide constructionis made on a plane below the surface of the said fore andrear members,and slide plates or lids c and c are dovetailed in the fore foot andheel plates, respectively, to form detachable dust-guards thereover toprevent the entrance and accumulation of dirt or foul therein.

c and c are set-screws for securing the dust-guards in place;

D D represent a pair of rear wheels mounted on an axle E of the heelportion B, and ,F is a single fore wheel mounted in the fork f,projecting forwardly from the toe portion or plate A.

The rear axle is preferably mounted in a readily-detachable manner inthe transversely-grooved bottom of the heel-plate, the bottomcross-plates e 6 being used to secure it. These bottom cross-plates havecorresponding plates or bars 6 e, countersunk in the top of theheel-plate, (see Figs. 2 and 4,) shanks or bolts projecting downwardlyfrom the inner faces thereof, and nuts e being applied to hold theclamp-plates and the axle tightly in place. The axle is shouldered at Eat either side the bottom plates e to prevent longitudinal movementthereof and any undue lateral play on the bolts. The wheels arepreferably pneumatic rubber-tire ones,

having thin wire spokes and grooved fellies, for both lightness andstrength, similar to those used in bicycles. The wheels are also mountedon ball-bearings d, as shown in the wheel to the right in Fig. 4, thusmaking a very light, freelyrunning skate. Upright claws G G project fromthe fore edge of the heel-plate, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2, to grip theheel and aid in securing the skate tightly in place on the shoe of theuser. Straps H H, passing through openings h h, (see Figs. 1 and 3,)made in tongue a and fore plate A, re spectively, are supplied forfurther securing the skate on the foot.

In the operation of my invention the front and rear members or portionsbeing detachably held together and made longitudinally adj ustable"through the instrumentalityof the table-slide mechanism hereinbeforedescribed render the skate suitable for different sizes of feet, theadjustments being very readily made at any time.

The rear axle being so readily detachable, it can be replaced at anytime without much difficulty or expense, and my construction shownfacilitates this feature to a great degree.

I claim 1. In an extension roller-skate, the combination of a toe orfore member A, having a forwardly-projecting fork f in which isjournaled the fore wheel F, and also having a longitudinal tongue to andgrooves a, a; a rear or heel member B, having slide-bars b, b, whichengage said grooves a, and a groove 12 which is engaged by theprojecting portion of tongue (4; one or more set-screws O for retainingthe slide devices in the desired position, with the heel and toe memberseither closed or extended, to suit the length of foot; slide-plates 0and c, forming dust-guards in the toe and heel plates, respectively, andsuitable straps and clamps or claw devices for securing the skate to thefoot, substantially as herein set forth.

2. In a roller-skate, the combination with the heel member B having atransverselygrooved bottom, of an axle E fitting within the bottomgroove of said heel member, a pair of bottom cross-plates e, c, a pairof top cross-bars e, e, and suitable bolts passing from said top barsthrough the axle and bottom cross-bars to the securing-nuts 6 below,whereby the, axle is detachably secured in place, substantially asherein set forth.

In testimony of which invent-ion I have hereunto set my hand.

IIOVVARD IV. JONES.

IVitnesses:

JOHN ELIAS J oNns, SH RWOOD R. TAYLOR.

